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EIU's unheralded lineman Chris Campbell emerges as NFL prospect
By BRIAN NIELSEN, Sports Editor
[email protected]
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2010/04/09/sports/doc4bbffe6ad0e72046058212.txt
Even for one of those underappreciated-by-media-and-fans offensive lineman, Chris Campbell was unheralded.
Chaz Millard was Eastern Illinois’ marquee offensive lineman, media guide cover guy and first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection.
Otis Hudson, who transferred from Minnesota to play offensive tackle for the Panthers, was probably the next most recognizable O-lineman by those of us who mainly watch the guy whose hands have the football.
Campbell might be the one laughing all the way to the bank with an NFL check.
Whether it was a Texas vs. U.S. all-star game in February where pro scouts were mainly the ones paying attention, individual workouts since or game films from last season, Campbell is the one who had the Seattle Seahawks paying for his flight out west for a workout with the O-line coach watching.
This weekend Campbell is going to Chicago to do a workout for the Philadelphia Eagles’ line coach.
Similar meetings are planned with the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots.
Projections are that Campbell could be chosen in the late rounds of the NFL draft in a couple of weeks and if not it looks certain he would be a free agent in a preseason camp.
That’s not bad for a guy whose senior season bio in Eastern’s media guide read: “Enters fall camp as a top reserve at left or right tackle. . .may battle for starting job as season progresses.”
Well, by the season opener Campbell solidified himself in the starting left tackle spot he kept throughout the season and earned second-team All-OVC lineman recognition.
That still hardly put him on a pedestal for the Panthers’ conference champions who had four first-team All-OVC and six second-team picks.
But now Campbell is the one with the scouts’ attention.
“It just took him until his senior year for the lights to come on,” EIU assistant head coach Roc Bellantoni said. “Four plus years of hard work finally paid off. Things have started clicking for him and I think his best football is ahead of him.”
While Campbell would have every opportunity to be spouting off with I-showed-you-fools talk, he is handling all this with the skills of someone with the public relations degree he earned last December.
“The attention is not something I really care about,” he said. “I like being under the radar. Throughout my college career, I was real good friends with Chaz and Otis Hudson. Otis is my best friend. I grew up playing football with him. I’m not an attention guru.”
That Campbell can fall back on a degree shows he was not necessarily counting on a pro football opportunity.
“It wasn’t ever a set-in-stone thing in my mind,” the Chicago Marshall High School product said. “I had a teacher tell me, ‘You can break a bone but you can’t break your brain,’ and I remembered that. But I also had a coach telling me, ‘Chris, you can make a career out of this.’ I had coaches like EIU Coach (Bob) Spoo tell me, ‘You have a chance. You just have to work at it.’ I’ve always known I had the talent and ability. But I had doubt in my mind.”
Reports now are erasing many of those doubts.
One Web site service said of the 6-foot-5, 328-pound Campbell: “Fine small school prospect who has been an integral part of one of the finest FCS offensive lines. Really stood out during the Texas v. The Nation game. . . Decent agility for a big man. Carries his weight much better than you might expect at first glance. Gets decent depth on his drops. Uses multiple punches and strong hands to keep pass rushers at bay. OK in the running game as well. Can probably play multiple line positions. . . Priority (undrafted free agent) who could sneak into the last round or two with a solid pro day workout.”
Other Panthers are being considered as well.
Hudson has worked out for several teams and may get a free-agent chance.
While few teams are likely to use a draft pick on a kickoff specialist, first-team All-OVC kicker Austin Signor, who had more touchbacks than the rest of the OVC kickers combined, is likely to get a chance in a preseason camp to show that a 70-yard kickoff is 70 yards, college or NFL.
On the other hand, Millard, who a year ago probably was considered Eastern’s best draft prospect for 2010, is not seeking a pro playing career instead helping the Panthers this spring in spring football practice as a coach and looking for a coaching job for next season.
Campbell now stands as Eastern’s leading prospect.
“At this point, you never really know with this draft stuff but it looks like a pretty good look to get drafted,” he said. “Free agency is always there. I’m more like 70-80 percent being drafted. I’m just putting it in the Lord’s hands”
Any EIU player should know being drafted is not a necessity with quarterback Tony Romo in 2003 using the free agent route on his way to Dallas Cowboys stardom.
Just last year defensive end Pierre Walters was undrafted but landed a roster spot as a Kansas City Chiefs linebacker.
“He’s getting more action than Pierre did last year,” Bellantoni said as far as scouts’ interest and workouts. “I can’t figure out that draft thing. We thought Tony and Pierre would get drafted. I know nobody flew Pierre out to Seattle. I don’t know what you read into that.”
The assistant coach does talk in certain terms about this: “He will get better and better every time he touches the field,” Bellantoni said. “He’s a great person, works very hard and we are very proud of him. He’s a great story: a walk-on from the city of Chicago who earned a scholarship and came out of nowhere to make himself an NFL prospect.”
Brian Nielsen is sports editor of the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Contact him at [email protected] or 238-6856.
By BRIAN NIELSEN, Sports Editor
[email protected]
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2010/04/09/sports/doc4bbffe6ad0e72046058212.txt
Even for one of those underappreciated-by-media-and-fans offensive lineman, Chris Campbell was unheralded.
Chaz Millard was Eastern Illinois’ marquee offensive lineman, media guide cover guy and first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection.
Otis Hudson, who transferred from Minnesota to play offensive tackle for the Panthers, was probably the next most recognizable O-lineman by those of us who mainly watch the guy whose hands have the football.
Campbell might be the one laughing all the way to the bank with an NFL check.
Whether it was a Texas vs. U.S. all-star game in February where pro scouts were mainly the ones paying attention, individual workouts since or game films from last season, Campbell is the one who had the Seattle Seahawks paying for his flight out west for a workout with the O-line coach watching.
This weekend Campbell is going to Chicago to do a workout for the Philadelphia Eagles’ line coach.
Similar meetings are planned with the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots.
Projections are that Campbell could be chosen in the late rounds of the NFL draft in a couple of weeks and if not it looks certain he would be a free agent in a preseason camp.
That’s not bad for a guy whose senior season bio in Eastern’s media guide read: “Enters fall camp as a top reserve at left or right tackle. . .may battle for starting job as season progresses.”
Well, by the season opener Campbell solidified himself in the starting left tackle spot he kept throughout the season and earned second-team All-OVC lineman recognition.
That still hardly put him on a pedestal for the Panthers’ conference champions who had four first-team All-OVC and six second-team picks.
But now Campbell is the one with the scouts’ attention.
“It just took him until his senior year for the lights to come on,” EIU assistant head coach Roc Bellantoni said. “Four plus years of hard work finally paid off. Things have started clicking for him and I think his best football is ahead of him.”
While Campbell would have every opportunity to be spouting off with I-showed-you-fools talk, he is handling all this with the skills of someone with the public relations degree he earned last December.
“The attention is not something I really care about,” he said. “I like being under the radar. Throughout my college career, I was real good friends with Chaz and Otis Hudson. Otis is my best friend. I grew up playing football with him. I’m not an attention guru.”
That Campbell can fall back on a degree shows he was not necessarily counting on a pro football opportunity.
“It wasn’t ever a set-in-stone thing in my mind,” the Chicago Marshall High School product said. “I had a teacher tell me, ‘You can break a bone but you can’t break your brain,’ and I remembered that. But I also had a coach telling me, ‘Chris, you can make a career out of this.’ I had coaches like EIU Coach (Bob) Spoo tell me, ‘You have a chance. You just have to work at it.’ I’ve always known I had the talent and ability. But I had doubt in my mind.”
Reports now are erasing many of those doubts.
One Web site service said of the 6-foot-5, 328-pound Campbell: “Fine small school prospect who has been an integral part of one of the finest FCS offensive lines. Really stood out during the Texas v. The Nation game. . . Decent agility for a big man. Carries his weight much better than you might expect at first glance. Gets decent depth on his drops. Uses multiple punches and strong hands to keep pass rushers at bay. OK in the running game as well. Can probably play multiple line positions. . . Priority (undrafted free agent) who could sneak into the last round or two with a solid pro day workout.”
Other Panthers are being considered as well.
Hudson has worked out for several teams and may get a free-agent chance.
While few teams are likely to use a draft pick on a kickoff specialist, first-team All-OVC kicker Austin Signor, who had more touchbacks than the rest of the OVC kickers combined, is likely to get a chance in a preseason camp to show that a 70-yard kickoff is 70 yards, college or NFL.
On the other hand, Millard, who a year ago probably was considered Eastern’s best draft prospect for 2010, is not seeking a pro playing career instead helping the Panthers this spring in spring football practice as a coach and looking for a coaching job for next season.
Campbell now stands as Eastern’s leading prospect.
“At this point, you never really know with this draft stuff but it looks like a pretty good look to get drafted,” he said. “Free agency is always there. I’m more like 70-80 percent being drafted. I’m just putting it in the Lord’s hands”
Any EIU player should know being drafted is not a necessity with quarterback Tony Romo in 2003 using the free agent route on his way to Dallas Cowboys stardom.
Just last year defensive end Pierre Walters was undrafted but landed a roster spot as a Kansas City Chiefs linebacker.
“He’s getting more action than Pierre did last year,” Bellantoni said as far as scouts’ interest and workouts. “I can’t figure out that draft thing. We thought Tony and Pierre would get drafted. I know nobody flew Pierre out to Seattle. I don’t know what you read into that.”
The assistant coach does talk in certain terms about this: “He will get better and better every time he touches the field,” Bellantoni said. “He’s a great person, works very hard and we are very proud of him. He’s a great story: a walk-on from the city of Chicago who earned a scholarship and came out of nowhere to make himself an NFL prospect.”
Brian Nielsen is sports editor of the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Contact him at [email protected] or 238-6856.
DAL @ GB
